In The End | Daryl Dixon

Chapter 45: Welcome to Alexandria

Alexandria was much larger than any of us had expected. Aaron led us inside the gates, all of us were on edge when the gate shut behind us. But off in the distance I could hear children laughing, which eased my mind a little.

A man stood next to Aaron, meeting us at the gate, "Before we take this any further, I need you all to turn over your weapons." Not even an introduction, just straight to the point. "If you stay, you hand them over."

"We don't know if we want to stay." Rick said to the man.

"It's fine, Nicholas." Aaron said to the man beside him.

"If we were gonna use them, we would've started already." Rick pointed out.

"Let them talk to Deanna first." Aaron told Nicholas.

"Who's Deanna?" I asked.

"She knows everything you'd want to know about this place." Aaron answered, "Rick why don't you start?"

"Start what, exactly? The auditions?" I asked him.

Aaron nodded, "She'll speak to each of you individually. Come"

Aaron turned on his heel and began to lead us into Alexandria. I looked around, studying the homes, and buildings. They look like they were just built, they dont look like any of the homes we've seen on the outside. I saw some of the people, they seemed truly happy, and carefree. It was like there were two different worlds, inside these walls had not been touched by the evil that awaits them outside those gates.

"Everyone else can wait in the living room." Aaron said as he walked up the front steps to a house. "Deanna will call for you when she's ready."

The house was like out of one of those magazines, very modern with a touch of character. I took a seat on the black leather couch next to Daryl, while Aaron took Rick upstairs.

"I didn't think it would be like this." I whispered to Daryl.

"Just don't let your guard down." He mumbled back, just in time for Aaron to come back down stairs.

"I know it may take a while, but I'm glad that you all decided to come." He smiled, "It'll be worth it."

After what seemed like forever, Rick finally came down stairs wearing a blank expression, before walking towards Glenn, indicating it was his turn.

One by one, each of us went to talk to Deanna. I was the last one for her to talk to. I slowly walked upstairs and entered the room with the door wide opened.

"Hello." Her voice welcomed me as soon as I entered the room, "Please have a seat." She gesture to the chair on the other side of her.

I sat down in the chair as directed.

"You mind if I film this?" She asked, standing behind the camera that was facing me.

"Uh-I guess." I said awkwardly.

She pressed the button on the camera, the red light turned on indicating she was now filming me. She walked around the leather couch and took a seat in front of me.

"I'm Deanna Monroe." She said with a smile.

"Jordyn Booker." I began picking at my nails.

"How long have you been out there, Jordyn?" She asked.

"Since the beginning." I answered quietly.

"In Atlanta, right?"

I nodded, slightly confused on why she'd ask if she already knew.

"Did you know any of them before?"

"No." I shook my head looking down at the floor, "Few of us met in Atlanta, the others we met along the way."